Relationships need to be nurtured. That’s never been more apparent. After being separated from so many over the past year, I decided to pack a lot of running into the fall months, and the one thing I’ve come to realize i...
Tag: From the Editor
UltraRunning Magazine reports the overall number of ultra finishes each February in our annual UltraRunners of the Year (UROY) issue. Due to last year’s drop in participation because of race cancellations, we had very li...
This year’s return of Western States brought familiar faces, both young and old, to the iconic course on the last weekend in June. A few were running, some were volunteering, and many came to spectate at a race that hold...
Maybe it’s the apprehension of the start line or the exhilaration of the finish line. Or maybe, it’s the heartwarming feeling of reuniting with the ultrarunning community. But there’s definitely a feeling...
The very first issue of UR was published this month back in 1981. The cover was printed in black and white and featured the TAC (The Athletic Congress) 50K champ from 1980, Bill DeVoe, running the Knickerbocker 60K in...
With a full year of race cancellations, COVID infections, restrictions and lockdowns moving ever so slowly into the rearview mirror, it’s hard to reflect on the past and not see a future full of opportunities. The...
Jumping up to the famed buckle distance can be daunting for anyone. Despite the famous words of Karl “Speedgoat” Meltzer, 100 miles is actually pretty far and for most of us, takes a lot of time to finish. But to do s...
On my first day as UR editor, I received the following email: “Welcome to the job, from the first editor. What a great 10 years of my life getting UR started! IBM Selectric typewriter. Film cameras, struggling for a c...
As ultrarunners, we live for planning. Lotteries. Race calendars. Training plans. Sound familiar? Normally, this is the time when we’d be planning for the year ahead. Yes, things have changed. The anticipation of race...
The community. Smiles from familiar faces. Hugs from long lost friends. Meeting new people who feel like long lost friends. These are the things I miss about not running ultras in 2020.Connecting with others at events is...
The act of running is as simple as it gets, but as distances grow longer, so does the list of necessary gear. After a few years of carrying handhelds on long runs and suffering from numb fingers, loose straps and a gener...
As I sit down to write this, a majority of the world continues under broad orders to shelter in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Just a little over three weeks ago, my kids were still in school...
An early season 50k is a great opportunity to “check the engine,” if you will. It’s also an excellent reminder of why we run ultramarathons. Maybe you’re really just looking to get some miles in and test the race waters,...
As spring training begins to grip you with its nasty, muddy hands, and you come to terms with the miles that lie ahead this season, don’t forget to schedule in some time to volunteer this year.As seasoned ultrarunners kn...
In 2019, world records were broken by men and women, and iconic races had their courses smashed. Women commanded the headlines with major wins in both the U.S. and abroad – and the spotlight became a little brighter on t...
Winter has arrived – time to break out the hand warmers so you’re able to keep your fingers crossed that the lotteries treat you kindly. With a new year on the horizon, it’s a perfect time to start thinking about which r...
I’m inspired almost every day by people doing amazing things – whether that’s running three 200-milers in three months or finishing a 5k for the very first time. These stories motivate me to keep doing what I’m doing, bu...
Runners endure their fair share of nerves and anxiety when it comes to competition. As a female runner, I’ve endured my fair share of harassment and discouragement, as well. From being called names in seventh grade becau...
Pumpkin doughnuts. That’s all it took to get me to sign up for a scramble in the fall – one of my first official trail races. Held on a Friday afternoon in October, the course took runners through golden aspens, splashin...
Arriving at Squaw Valley as a registered runner for the Western States Endurance Run is magical. And that’s a bit of an understatement. Runners are treated like royalty throughout registration while being told, “We’ll se...